Physical altercation between Netanyahu’s security detail and bodyguards of Togo’s president

An unusual incident occurred on Sunday during the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conference in Liberia. In light of the incident, the meeting between the Israeli prime minister and the Togolese president was postponed.

An embarrassing diplomatic incident occurred on Sunday during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official visit to Liberia for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conference.

While Netanyahu’s security personnel searched the bodyguards of Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé ahead of the meeting between the two leaders, an argument broke out between the sides and quickly escalated to a physical altercation. The Shin Bet stated: “Ahead of the meeting between the president and foreign minister of Togo and the Israeli prime minister, an argument broke out between the delegations. The sides reached an understanding and another meeting between the leaders was rescheduled.”

At the conference, Netanyahu delivered a speech in front of the other heads of state. However, the leaders of Niger, Nigeria and Benin decided to not attend Netanyahu’s speech.

Netanyahu told reporters that the purpose of his visit is to strengthen Israel’s relations with the African countries and change the anti-Israel voting trends of the countries at the UN. Netanyahu added that he hopes that his visit will lead to a reconciliation with Senegal, which supported the UN resolution against the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.